Piers Morgan is set to interview Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney and British funnyman Ricky Gervais in the first week of his new US talk show which airs next week.

Piers Morgan will host CNN’s new interview show Piers Morgan Tonight

The journalist has signed a deal to take over from Larry King Live on CNN and is already securing a list of the who’s who of worldwide stars to appear for a grilling.

It has already been revealed that the first guest will be chat show Queen Oprah Winfrey on the January 17 opening night.

In the initial programmes, he has now confirmed he will also interview Clooney and Gervais as well as radio shock-jock Howard Stern and former US secretary of State Condoleezza Rice .

Hollywood actor George Clooney

British comedian Ricky Gervais

The former Britain’s Got Talent host had been desperate for quite some time to land Oprah, 56, on his show, admitting last week: ‘I wanted to start my new show with the ultimate bang and for that I needed the biggest star in the world but also somebody who was one of the most powerful people in the world.

‘And that narrowed the list down, as far I as I was concerned, to one person.’

MORE: Piers Morgan – Madonna is too boring to be on my show His interview show will see him quizzing stars in a format similar to that of his hugely successful ITV programme show Piers Morgan Life Stories.

Other guests Morgan, 45, has lined up include Rod Stewart, Kim Kardashian, Kid Rock, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Melania Trump.

Piers Morgan Tonight will be screened on CNN International from January 18.